Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take magazines?Yes we do. You can mix them with the newspapers. However, if your community has a recycling program then you can place your magazines or newspapers in the recycle bins for pickup on your scheduled recycle pickup day.

Where should I set my garbage & recycling containers?Depending on your service agreement, your garbage cans must either be curbside or backdoor in an area visible and accessible by our employees. Your recycle bins are normally collected curbside unless special arrangements have been made with your community for special pickup.

What time should I have our garbage & recycling containers out?All garbage and recycling should be set out by 7:00am on the day of collection.

Do you recycle glass?Yes we do accept glass. We will accept household glass items purchased at the grocery store such as jars, glass bottles, wine bottles, glass beer bottles, etc. We will accept the most common colors such as clear, brown and green. (Please rinse and drain glass as much as possible before placing out for pickup.)

We will not accept window/door glass, glass plates, table glass or glass products used for placing cooked foods.

What do I do with paint & chemicals?VF can dispose of any paint cans that are empty. Otherwise, paint and hazardous waste need to be taken to a facility that accepts such items.

Do you recycle electronics?We do pickup electronics. Please call to schedule a pickup, and or inquire about the fees for this service.

How often is recycling picked up?Residential recycling is normally picked up once a week on Wednesdays. Please call our office at (713) 787-9790 or your community contact to verify your scheduled pickup day.

Do you supply yard waste containers?We do not supply yard waste containers. You can place your yard waste inside a plastic bag. Please make sure that the bag(s) do not weigh more than 40 pounds each.

How should I prepare my grass clippings, branches, shrubs, limbs?Yard trimmings and clippings must be placed by the curb for pickup. We will only collect household yard waste generated by each home in the normal course of maintenance. Please limit your yard waste to no more than 4 bags on each scheduled pick-up unless otherwise stated in your community service agreement. We will not collect commercial landscape debris left over from major renovations, installations performed by contractors or homeowners. Branches must be put in bundle, tied, less than 4 feet in length, 18 inches in diameter, and not weighing more than 40 pounds. Small tree trunks must be split in quarter sections in order to be picked up. No large of extremely heavy trunks will be collected.

What other items will not be picked up by VF Waste?We will not collect construction debris, rocks, bricks, concrete, dirt, roofing, lumber, carpet, tires, batteries, paint, hazardous materials, dead animals, large tree trunks, motor oil, unsafe containers, medical waste, etc. If your community has a recycling program, we do not collect glass at this time.

Can I pay my bill on-line?At this time we are not set up for bill on-line.

Do you take credit cards? Is there a fee? Which cards do you accept?We currently accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. There is no additional fee for paying with a credit card.

What if I have extra garbage or need a special pickup?Extra garbage and special pickup will be taken for an additional fee. Just call our office to schedule the extras and/or special pickup to be taken. Please visit our web site to schedule a special pickup or call us at (713) 787-9790.

How do we dispose of larger items such as freezers, or refrigerators? Is there any charge?Unless otherwise stated in your community service agreement, there is an additional cost, so please call to get the cost of a specific item, as the prices vary. These items must be drained of refrigerants and tagged for disposal by a certified refrigerant recycler before pickup.

What are your office hours?Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm. For your convenience we are also open Saturdays from 9:00am – 12:00pm.

What is your billing cycle?Residential customers are billed monthly.

What are the measurements of your residential rear-load dumpsters?Click here to view our dumpster dimensions.

What is the fuel surcharge for?The basic price our company charges covers operating costs—labor, supplies, insurance, energy, etc.—plus a profit. The fuel surcharge is needed to pay for the marginal increase in costs due only to the higher cost of diesel fuel and other petroleum based products while oil prices are very unstable.

Will you provide a free on-site solid waste evaluation?Yes. We will provide your community a complimentary on-site solid waste evaluation.

What is bulky waste and who is eligible?Bulky waste can be considered as unwanted household items that are too cumbersome to go in your trash cans or too large to be accepted by the regular waste collection. The majority of bulky waste tends to be furniture (couches, recliners, tables), large appliances (refrigerators, water heaters, ovens, tv’s) and white goods (bathtubs, toilets, sinks). Branches, brush, logs and other green waste are also considered as bulky waste,

If your community service agreement includes heavy trash pickup then most of these items will be collected if they are not too heavy. In order for us to take these items they must be broken down as much as possible, or tied and bundled, or drained of refrigerants and tagged for disposal by a certified refrigerant recycler before pickup. If the item(s) are too heavy then special arrangements must be made with our office to remove these items at an addition cost. Also, no more than 3 heavy trash/bulky waste items will be picked up on each heavy trash day.

If your community service agreement does include heavy or bulky waste pickup then you can contact our office for a quote.

Where should I place my heavy trash or bulky waste for pickup?Trash should be placed at the curbside within 5ft. from the street, and at least 3ft. from mailboxes, parked cars, trees, utility poles and other obstructions.

What happens if I forget to have my garbage cans or recycle bins ready for pickup on my pickup day?We will try to accommodate you because we want to make sure that all our customers are satisfied. If possible we will send our truck back to your home (the same day) if our truck is in close vicinity. If this is not the case then we can make sure that your item(s) are collected the next day without charging you any additional fees (in most cases). We greatly appreciate those customers that are honest and tell us that it was their fault and not ours.

I saw someone throw all of my recycling in the back of a truck without separating it. Was the recycling treated as waste?No. We have special designated trucks for recycle pickup. These items are then taken to a certified facility and sorted.